Horace e



Patented Mar. 7, I899.

H. E. BOUCHER.

TROUSERS RACK.

(Application filed Feb. 25, 1898.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

vwvy INVENTOR A TTORNEYF.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE E. BOUCHER, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

TROUSERS-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,638, dated March 7, 1899.

Application filedPehruary 25,1898. Serial No. 671,646. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HORACE E. BOUCHER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, in the city and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Trousers-Racks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in trousers-racks, the object being to provide a folding trousers rack or hanger which may be mounted upon a door, wall, or other suitable support, so as to be opened and closed with facility, the rack when in itsclosed position occupying very little space, making it particularly advantageous for use in clothesclosets.

A further object is to provide a rack or hanger of the above character which will be capable of receiving a considerable number of trousers and will hold them in such a manner as to permit them to retain their shape.

A still further object is to construct a device which is provided with means for quickly and readily inserting and removing the trou sers.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the trousers rack or hanger in its open position, and Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same in its closed position.

A designates a suitable support-such, for instance, as a wall or door. Upper and lower cross-bars B and O are secured in any suitable manner to the support A a distance apart equal to the length of the rack-frame.

The rack-frame is denoted by D, and it is hinged along its inner end to the cross-bar or cleat C, as shown at cl. This frame D is of rectangular form, consisting of side bars cl d and end bars (1 (1 The rack D is supported in its open position substantially horizontal by means of flexible connections E, extending from the upper cross-bar or cleatB to the free end of the said rack,the flexible connections in the present instance being represented as chains. These flexible connections are so located that they will hang down exterior to the frame when it is folded, thereby permitting the frame to fold snugly up against the support A when in its closed position.

The rack-frame is held inits closed position by any suitable means, the device herein represented being a spring-catch Z), carried by the upper cross-bar B, the bolt of the said catch being fitted to engage a suitable recess (Z in the outer cross-bar d Along the inner faces of the side bars d d of the frame D are located notched bars F, one only of which is shown herein, the notches f of which open through the top of the said bars. The number of notches may be varied to suit difierent requirements. These notches extend inwardly and downwardly, so as to retain the round therein whether the frame be in its open or closed position.

A plurality of rounds G are removably supported within the frame D by the notched bars F. The ends of these rounds are fitted to enter the several notches f, and the said rounds may be located close together or farther apart, as is found desirable.

In operation the rack-frame is opened, the trousers are folded at a point between the waist and bottom, and one of the rounds G is then removed from the rack and inserted within the fold of the trousers. The round is then returned to its position within the frame, and the frame may then be folded up into its closed position and locked by the catch 1).

When the open frame is swung up into its closed position, it is located between the upper and lower cross-bars, with its inner end resting on the lower cross-bar and its outer end engaging the upper cross -bar. These cross-bars serve to hold the frame rigidly in its closed position, so as to prevent the tilting of the frame as an entire structure should the trousers supported by the frame shift the weight to one side thereof, and also prevent the loosening of the hinges which secure the inner end of the frame to the lower cross-bar. This construction also relieves the catch car ried by the upper cross-bar which engages the outer end of the frame from a large amount of strain which it would otherwise have if the upper cross-bar were not in use.

By this construction a large number of trousers may be suspended in position to cause them to retain their shape and at the same time occupy a minimum space within the closet or other place where the rack is located. Furthermore, any particular trousers which it is desired to remove can be removed without disturbing in any degree the other trousers suspended within the rack.

While I have described this invention as a trousers rack or hanger, it is evident that other garments might be hung thereon to good advantage.

It is also evident that changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the structure herein shown and described; but

What I claim is A folding trousers-rack consisting of an upper bar fixed to a suitable support, a lower bar fixed to said support, an open frame having its inner end hinged directly to the said lower bar and its outer end arranged to engage the upper bar, the side bars of the frame having a series of corresponding notches all of which slant toward the hinged end of the said frame, rungs removably engaged with said notches, flexible connections between the upper bar and the outer end of the frame for supporting the frame in its open position and a catch carried by the upper bar and arranged to engage the outer end of the frame when the frame is in its raised or closed position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 19th day of February, 1898.

HORACE E. BOUOHER. Witnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, EDWARD VIEsER. 

